Where does the Republican/Tea (GOTP) Party find these people? Seriously, a United States Congressman, Mo Brooks from Alabama, actually said “As your congressman on the House floor, I will do anything short of shooting them. Anything that is lawful, it needs to be done because illegal aliens need to quit taking jobs from American citizens”?

You’re killing me Smalls!

Brooks made his incredible statement during an interview on WHNT, an Alabama TV station on 29 June 11.

During the interview Brooks went on to say, “They (illegal aliens) have no right to be here. They are clogging up our emergency rooms, and making our education system more expensive. If you go to the Madison County Jail, there are far too many illegal aliens there because they have victimized Americans.”

So, once again a GOTP politician has decided to blame his state’s ills on illegal aliens; according to Brooks, illegals are responsible for problems in health care, and education and are roaming around victimizing “real” Americans; thus he feels his violent rhetoric is acceptable. When American politicians begin to use one group of people – easily identified by race – as the cause of all ills they take steps down the same road a political party took in Germany in the early 1930s.

They are advocating people be arrested if they can’t prove their citizenship – show me your papers.

They are advocating “anything short of shooting them” meaning beating them is OK? Stabbing is OK? Lynching is OK? Anything short of shooting is an awfully big anything.

Congressman Brooks was wrong to say what he did, and his ignorance is showing. Maybe folks in Alabama think this is OK, or at least the folks in Brook’s District might, but someone, somewhere in the GOTP needs to stand up and say “enough is enough”. Someone in that party needs to grow up, be the adult and reclaim it from the lunatics on the fringe.

Former Republican Tea Party (GOTP) presidential candidate Senator John McCain, AZ, says he’s “puzzled” with all the controversy surrounding remarks he made suggesting illegal immigrants were responsible for some of the massive wildfire in eastern Arizona.

When McCain later appeared on NBC’s “Today” show he tried to explain that all he was doing was repeating information he’d been given by federal officials earlier that day at a briefing.

McCain said, “We all know that people who come across our border illegally … that these fires are sometimes, some of them, caused by this.” He said “I’m puzzled … that there should be any controversy.”

McCain earlier had said that illegal immigrants “have set fires because they wanted to signal others … and they have set fires because they wanted to divert law enforcement agents.”

And after making these statements he’s confused at the reaction of the public? This is one of two things; first, the Senator’s ignorant of the mood of the country, and more particularly his home state regarding illegal immigrants; or second, this was a typical far right conservative racial stereo-type in an attempt to blame another group for the country’s troubles.

So far “illegal” aliens are responsible for kidnappings, beheadings, prostitution, gun running, an increase of criminal activities, destroying the economy, tornadoes in the Midwest, hurricanes in the Atlantic and now starting forest fires.

When you start to blame one particular racial minority you’re setting the stage for public reaction – both violent and non-violent – against that group. You begin to pass laws against that particular group, and you begin to not only prosecute them, but to persecute as well. That’s why people were upset about your comments Senator. It appears you’re comments might have been made to further enrage, and possibly even to insight conservatives; and they were wrong.

If you’re truly “puzzled” about them, then perhaps it’s time for you to retire Senator. You’re either out of touch, or you’re deliberately making racially charged statements in order to score cheap political points.

A federal judge has blocked a Utah immigration law that would have allowed police to check the citizenship status of anyone they arrested, citing its similarities to controversial parts of the immigration law recently passed in Arizona and no doubt soon to be before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The National Immigration Law Center along with the American Civil Liberties Union led the suit to stop House Bill 497, saying it could lead to racial profiling. The civil rights groups submitted hundreds of pages of evidence and affidavits to prove their claims. U.S. District Judge Clark Waddoups agreed, at least in part, issuing his ruling in Salt Lake City, saying there was sufficient evidence for him to believe that parts of the Utah legislation would be found unconstitutional.

If it stands, the Utah law requires police to check the citizenship status of anyone arrested on suspicion of a felony or class-A misdemeanor, while giving officers the discretion to check the citizenship of anyone stopped for traffic infractions any other lesser offenses.

So, just like the Arizona law, any police officer, sheriff’s deputy or state trooper can demand anyone they stop provide proof of American citizenship. Of all the people in the United States, those living in Utah should understand what it means when Constitutional liberties are ignored and the state can treat everyone as criminals with no more justification than a policeman’s whim.

How soon they forget, these descendants of pioneers driven from their homes by similar feelings of prejudice and injustice; how soon indeed. Many claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, but they forget the Master’s teachings, and instead persecute the poor and the needy because they do not want to share the material wealth, or liberties, with which he has blessed them.

“Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

“When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

“Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

“And the King shall answer, … Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”